Although some evidence suggests the site was occupied during the
Ubaid period, the earliest excavated phases are Early Dynastic in
date (c. 2900-2350 BC). In the early second millennium BC the city
rose to political prominence, and it remained a major settlement
until the Parthian period. Excavations have concentrated on the
E.Babbar temple and ziggurat. Several large houses of the Old
Babylonian period were also uncovered.

The site was extensively looted in 2003; at the end of that year
a guard tower was erected and the presence of a guard deterred
further looting. The helicopter landed to the east of the E-Babbar
mound and the team moved to the guard tower; this had been used for
target practice from the north-east which had peppered the tower
with holes – the tower had not been visited for some time as
demonstrated by a nest with a young hawk within the observation
platform. There are at least five designated guards for the site,
based at Nasiriya, but none was present during the inspection
visit. From the top of the E-Babbar and neighbouring smaller mounds
there was little evidence of looting holes, and no clear evidence
of recent looting. Large areas of the site are now covered with
sand or eroded brick. The site is unfenced.